STD Testing

FPA Women's Health

Women's Health & Family Planning throughout Los Angeles County and other regions across California

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), undiagnosed sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) cause an estimated 24 thousand women to become infertile each year. Don’t become a statistic. If you’re sexually active, the team of expert women’s health care providers at FPA Women’s Health, with multiple locations throughout Los Angeles County and across several regions in California, offer comprehensive STD testing for women of all ages. STDs, also called sexually transmitted infections (STIs), can affect your reproductive health if you don’t receive prompt treatment. Click online or call the office to schedule an exam that includes STD testing.

STD Testing

Why do I need STD testing?

If you’re sexually active, your gynecologist or nurse practitioner typically recommends STD testing. Even if you don’t have symptoms — which is common — you could still have a sexually transmitted infection. Getting tested for common STIs means you can get the treatment you need before the infection becomes a disease with irreversible consequences.

Additionally, if you’re at risk of infection because you’ve had unprotected sex or sex with multiple partners, don’t wait for your annual exam for STD testing. The sooner you get tested, the sooner you can receive necessary medical treatment.

What’s included in STD testing?

Depending on your age, symptoms, and risk factors, your provider at FPA Women’s Health may recommend any of the following STI testing:

Chlamydia

Gonorrhea

Genital herpes

Genital warts (Human papillomavirus, or HPV)

Syphilis

Hepatitis B and C

HIV/AIDS

Trichomoniasis

It’s common for young women to get genital warts (HPV), chlamydia, and gonorrhea. While there’s no definitive test for HPV, a Pap smear can detect the type of abnormal cells that may lead to cervical cancer.

What are the symptoms of STDs?

Symptoms vary depending on which STD you have, but common signs of infection include:

Sores or bumps on your genitals

Vaginal discharge

Painful urination

Frequent urination

Itching or irritation around your genitals

Flu-like symptoms

If you do experience STD symptoms, avoid having sex until you seek testing and treatment so you don’t spread the infection to others.

What is the treatment for STDs?

You can treat several common STDs with medications and antibiotics. If you test positive for chlamydia, syphilis, or gonorrhea, antibiotics usually relieve your symptoms and cure the infection. Other STIs, including genital herpes, genital warts, and hepatitis B and C, has no cure, but treatment can reduce symptoms.

Genital warts, or HPV, are the result of a virus. While there’s no treatment for the virus itself, you can treat the outbreak and reduce uncomfortable symptoms with:

Topical solutions

Cryotherapy (freezing)

Surgical excision

Laser treatments

Electrocautery

If you suspect you have an STD, or even if you don’t, it’s important to get tested regularly. Your experienced provider at FPA Women’s Health can recommend how often you should get tested, and for which STDs, depending on your age, risk factors, and lifestyle.

Call the office to schedule an exam that includes STD testing, or request the next available appointment through the convenient online booking tool.